Unemployment insurance claims down across the state

ATLANTA — The Georgia Department of Labor announced that 34,293 laid-off workers filed first-time claims for unemployment insurance benefits in September, down by 1,210, or 3.4 percent, from August when 35,503 claims were filed.

The last time initial claims were below this level was in September 2007, when 32,139 were recorded.

Initial claims were down over the month in construction, administrative and support services, retail trade, professional, scientific and technical services and health care and social assistance. Initial claims were up in manufacturing, mostly due to temporary layoffs.

Over the year, initial claims were down by 5,271, or 13.3 percent, from 39,564 in September 2012. Most of the decline came in manufacturing, construction, retail trade, administrative and support services and educational services, along with professional, scientific, and technical services.

The 14 metro areas of the state and their changes in initial claims from August to September are as follows: • Albany, down 71, or 10.4 percent, from 683 to 612. • Athens, down 83, or 16.1 percent, from 516 to 433. • Atlanta, down 846, or 4.8 percent, from 17,563 to 16,717.• Augusta, down 52, or 3.8 percent, from 1,364 to 1,312.• Brunswick, down four, or 0.9 percent, from 425 to 421.• Columbus, up 243, or 33.4 percent, from 727 to 970.• Dalton, up six, or 0.7 percent, from 825 to 831.• Gainesville, down 108, or 16 percent, from 676 to 568.• Hinesville, down 52, or 25.6 percent, from 203 to 151. • Macon, down 103, or 10.4 percent, from 995 to 892.• Rome, up 225, or 47.7 percent, from 472 to 697.• Savannah, up eight, or 0.7 percent, from 1,195 to 1,203. • Valdosta, up 14, or 3.3 percent, from 425 to 439. • Warner Robins, down 21, or 5.4 percent, from 389 to 368.